James Taylor has started to offer free guitar lessons online. He is, after all, your Handy Man.

Now let's get this out of the way: The jury is still out on whether these video lessons will offer serious guidance or not. The first video offers a somewhat detailed primer on ... caring for your fingernails. And it comes coupled with a short lesson, "Little Wheel" in e minor, that is decidedly short on pedagogy. More lessons will be coming soon though. Sign up for JT's email list, and they'll ping you when new videos are posted online.

Comments (15)

James…I am the dental student who ‘stole’ your and your buddies bicycle in 1962 or 1963..in Chapel Hill..I just wanted you to know that I am proud of your success in music. Iam a fan..Someone asked me to name two events in my life that are unforgettable.One was that I armed and disarmed a nuclear weapon from the bombay of a B47 aircraft…The other event was that I “stole” James Taylor’s bicycle before he became famous..These things you dont forget..I would like very much to meet You again sometime….Dr. James E. Kendall..Charlotte NC

My wife and i are two of your most ardent admirers.i have played now for 49 years. When my wife and i met i played “Don’t Let Me be Lonley Tonight”… your cds are sung along with constantly… we sound so much alike that all my children have said “listen on the radio…it’s daddy. Love your knowledge of chord structure and the sometimes “odd” harmonies of Carol King”… please never quit…. you are to important of an inspiration…Ray and Lisa

James, having grown up with you and your music, I cannot say with more conviction that you have been instrumental in saving the life of my son
Gene Jr. He was hopelessly addicted to
Heroin and whatever he could lay his hands on. I spent my lives savings of over 250K$$ and it made no difference at all. He remained addicted and headed for the afterlife and I could do nothing but watch him fall from his once great musical talent into the abyss of nothingness. I had to give up on him because first off I was broke and could do no more, my dear wife was dying of Cancer and I just waited for the storm of life to end. I gave my son my only copy of Sweet Baby James on CD and he left for places unknown. He traveled around for a few years and when I saw him upon his return, he was clean, he had nothing but and old Walkmen and the CD I had given him. He tells me often that he knew you had licked your demons and because he came to understand your music and your struggle, he was able to muster the strength he needed to break free of his addiction. James, Mr. Taylor I just want to say thank you for being alive when my son needed your inspiration.
Forever Grateful
Your biggest fan
Gene Kelley Sr.
Cape Cod

My first true love sweet 16 turned me on onto your music it has been with me ever since.53 yrs old now. We headed in other ways as people often do but I got to see her about a year before she died of brain cancer and J.T. was still one one of our unforgetable memories. I’ll always treasure those times we had as young kids during the peace movement thinking if on only the world would listen to your music how much things might have changed. R.I.P. Debra we all miss you and thanks James for your wonderful music.

DEAR JAMES,ABOUT2 YEARS AGO I HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH DEATH ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I’M NOT GONNA GIVE U A STORY ON HOW BAD, I WAS BUT JUST TO GIVE U RUFF IDEA I SPENT 10 MONTHS IN A WHEELCHAIR, BEFORE MY MISFORTUNE I WAS A SELF TAUGHT GUITARIST AND PICKED IT UP NATRALLY, JUST BY GROWING UP AROUND FREINDS THAT WERE IN BANDS,AS I WAS TOO. BACK THEN. BUT THE ACCIDENT BROKE 7 BONES IN MY BODY THE GOOD NEWS IS IM RECOVERING QIET WELL, ONLY 1 PROBLEM JAMES MY LEFT RIST IS FULLY FUSED AND IF THERE’S 1 THING IVE MISSED ITS PLAYING, IT WAS MY ESCAPE AND SOCIAL SCENE.
BUT IM STILL DETERMINED TO START AGAIN MY MUSICAL COMRAD. THE ONLY THING IS I HAVE 2 TRAIN MY LEFT ARM TO PICK AND STRUM AND MY RIGHT TO PLAY CHORDS. IM EVEN HOPEN I’LL BE ABLE TO ACHEAVE SOME SORT OF IT BACK MAYBE IF IM LUCKY I MIGHT PICK UP A FEW LEAD SOLO’S AS USE TO BE ABLE TO MATE,I WISH, BUT I GOT STAY POSITIVE AND DO THE BEST I CAN AND KNOWING ME I DONT GIVE UP VERY EASILY, MUSIC’S ALWAY’S BEEN MY PASSION AND AFL. BUT LIKE ISAID IVE JUST GOT OF THE CRUCTHES SO AFL IS DEFINATLY OUT OF THE QUESTION, I GARRENTEE U I,LL DIE TRYING IF I HAVE TO RETRAIN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF MY BODY TO GET BACK INTO PLAYING GUITAR AGAIN, NOT ASKING FOR MUCH MAYBE A COUPLE OF BOOKS AND MAYBE IF YOUR A KIND SOUL A DVD OF YOUR SELF, SO THAT WHEN IM PRACTISING, ILL ALWAYS KNOW THERE STILL ARE DECENT PEOPLE AROUND OL’MATIE . SO IM ASKING KINDLY IF YOU CAN SEND OUT WHAT U CAN,IT DOES NOT HAVE 2 BE TO MUCH STUFF, I’D REALLY APPRICIATE IT. AND DON,T BE SHY IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME MONEY FOR GUITAR BOOKS WITH CHORDS IN EM. JUST I CAN GET MY RIGHT WRIST AND FINGERS AROUND THE THREAD, ID REALLY APPRECIATE IT. YOU CAN CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL OR DIRECTLY ON MY MOBILE, IM OUT TOWARDS THE WEST OF MELB, JAMES I REALLY MISS PLAYING AND EVEN IF I HAVE TO RETRAIN THE OPISIDE SIDE OF MYSELF TO DO SO AND BE HAPPY TO PLAY. I LOVE ALL MUSIC, BUT MY GUITAR IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FIRST LOVE SINCE A 14 YR OLD TAKER DOWN TOWARDS WILLIAMSTOWN. I AM NOW 39YRS OLD AND THERE IS NO WAY ILL GIVE UP ON ANYTHING I LOVE, BESIDES I KNOW MY SELF AND IT WONT BE AS HARD AS IT WAS WHEN I WAS A KID AND MY DEAR OLD POP USE TOO TAKE ME TO GUITAR LESSONS WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE TACKER. SO JAMES, GEE IT FEELS LIKE IM WRITING THIS EMAIL 2 MYSELF.COZ WE GOT THE SAME FIRST NAME……. I’D REALLY LOVE TO HERE FROM U EVEN IF U CANT HELP. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST,,,,,,,,,BIG JIM 0458576723 THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR EVEN TAKING THE TIME OUT 4 ME TO READ THIS. CHEER’S

whenever I open your page, it opens several pages. one right after the other, which locks up my computer. would you please have your tech look into that. It is only your page that does this… and I would like to feel your page is safe to use.
thanks

Thats what I need: guitar instruction from a guy that can’t play a D chord correctly. No thanks. James you made your statments with some wonderful songs over the years. Its time to maintain a dignified silence now.

Dear James , I started playing the d and a chord like you do your songs and it makes it easier hammer on and off and find myself playing that way on other songs it’s great don’t every retire your music is timeless

Dear James , I started playing the d and a chord like you do your songs and it makes it easier hammer on and off and find myself playing that way on other songs it’s great don’t every retire your music is timeless

Joe who left a comment is an idiot, the alternate fingering for D and A is a great way to speed up chord changes, and hammer ons, I’ve seen some bluegrass pickers do’in that way. Thanks a million for the free lessons James, it’s helped me a lot!!

Dear James, if you can believe this at about the same time (mine was beat in ’88. 22 years later) we battled the same demons rose and fell got up and fell down again ( hell is a trampoline) and played guitar. You in your inimitable way and me in mine: every time I see your smiling face it is like seeing a long lost friend; every time I hear a new song or tune I think Hallelujah. Thank you on behalf of at least 2 if not 3 generations for your music and now your lessons. Play on Mr. Taylor, you’re the real thing.

I’ve worked through a few of these lessons and would like to offer a few comments. First: people don’t seem pleased that JT gives lessons on fingernails and tuning? If you look around the classical world you’ll find that fingernail care is a topic of much discussion. Proper nails are essential to good playing, and the additional challenges added when trying to play a steel-string acoustic with your nails make his insights very valuable indeed. As to the tuning, as someone who has avoided using a capo for decades because they tend to pull the guitar out of tune, I’m thankful for his detailed explanation on how he tunes.

Now, as to the level of pedagogy in the lessons, it’s true that they are not for beginners and are somewhat short on explanation. If you want someone to tell you to put your index finger here and your middle finger there, there are plenty of people out on youtube who will do that. C’mon. The man is a world-class artist who has taken the time to give a close-up view of his playing. Be thankful for it. The extra work you may have to put in to get all the details will pay you back many times over in your understanding of the music and your ability to play it.

Personally, I’m very grateful to James for taking the time to share the insights into his prep and playing.

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